RATINGS RECAP: 3/30/11

ABC
8:00 The Middle (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
8:30 The Middle (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 Modern Family (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:30 Mr. Sunshine
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
10:00 Off the Map
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 11.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 13.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.5
10:00 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

NBC
8:00 Minute to Win It 
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 8.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 24.2 million, 18-49 demo: 7.7

ABC was in repeats from 8:00-9:30 and the news was not good the rest of the night. Repeats of The Middle and Modern Family were at normal repeat levels for this spring. But Mr. Sunshine fell apart and was down 1.8 million viewers and seven tenths in the demo for series lows. This is now a straight up flop and a worse option than Cougar Town in this slot. For a heavily hyped series, it had trouble getting off the ground and then was sampled and mostly dismissed. Its ratings may rise slightly when Modern Family is new but its well below Better With You levels at this point when it comes to on-the-fence sitcoms. Off the Map followed and was down three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo, tying a series low in both categories. If Body of Proof doesn't collapse, this show is likely a goner.

CBS was all new with an average evening. At 8pm, Survivor was dead even with last week and continues to be a much better option for CBS in this timeslot than the comedies that aired last year. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was new and down just seven tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from its last new airing two weeks ago, which was a big episode so the drop isn't too bad. Finally at 10pm, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior was up seven tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. The rise is ok but it was following a new Criminal Minds this week so it actually should have been higher. Right now, with the state of CBS's dramas, these ratings aren't cutting it.


NBC had a typical night. At 8pm, Minute to Win It was dead even with last week and very low as usual. It's hard to believe how strong this show was seeming before American Idol came along this winter. After a Law & Order: SVU repeat, a new Law & Order: SVU was down three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from last week but still the winner of the hour in the demo category. FOX was on top as usual with the unstoppable American Idol, which was up three tenths in viewers but down two tenths in the demo. This season has been holding up better in the ratings than recent ones despite all the pre-season reports of a possible drop with new judges.